Rogers Media uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. Rogers Media supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies.

We use cookies (why?) You can change cookie preferences. Continued site use signifies consent.

Carbon tax plan will cost families thousands more per year: CTF

The CTF says BC families can expect a tax increase less than the national average

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation (CTF) has come out swiftly against the federal Liberals’ carbon tax plan, saying it will cost the average Canadian family $2,569 more in taxes every year by 2022.

Provinces can choose either a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system, but if neither is implemented, the feds will step in and impose one.

The CTF’s BC director Jordan Bateman says this province has had a front-row-seat to what happens when carbon pricing is brought in.

“The truth is, the carbon tax doesn’t work,” he argues. “Emissions are higher than they were when we brought in the carbon tax, and the economy has not out-performed our neighbours.”

BC prices carbon dioxide emissions at $30 per tonne, which will remain above the proposed national floor price until 2021. The BC Liberals’ recent climate change plan does not include a carbon tax increase.

Bateman expects BC families to be hit with a less than average tax increase, because power sources in the province are generally cleaner, and we don’t produce as much oil and gas as other provinces.

Still, he says this will only make it harder to live in a province with higher than average gas prices, spiking heating and power bills, and various other taxes.

“It’s not quite as bad in BC as other places, but only because we’ve been suffering for longer, so hardly a reason to go out and celebrate,” he adds.